Dinosaurs weren’t dying out before the asteroid hit—they were thriving in vibrant, diverse habitats across North America. Fossil evidence from New Mexico shows that distinct “bioprovinces” of dinosaurs existed until the very end. Their extinction was sudden, not gradual, and the recovery of life afterward mirrored climate-driven patterns. It’s a...
Ancient DNA reveals the deadly diseases behind Napoleon’s defeat
Researchers have uncovered microbial evidence in the remains of Napoleon’s soldiers from the 1812 Russian retreat. Genetic analysis revealed pathogens behind paratyphoid and relapsing fever, diseases likely contributing to the army’s massive losses. Using advanced DNA sequencing, the team pieced together centuries-old infection clues, connecting historical accounts with modern science....
Earth is splitting open beneath the Pacific Northwest
For the first time, scientists have seen a subduction zone actively breaking apart beneath the Pacific Northwest. Seismic data show the oceanic plate tearing into fragments, forming microplates in a slow, step-by-step collapse. This process, once only theorized, explains mysterious fossil plates found elsewhere and offers new clues about earthquake...
Climate Change Drove Extreme Wildfire Seasons Across the Americas, Making Burned Areas Around 30 Times Larger
Human-driven climate change made wildfires in parts of South America and Southern California many times larger and more destructive, according to an annual assessment by international experts.
Researchers Tackle Growing Threat of ‘Forever Chemicals’
A new project led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology will transform our understanding of a group of manufactured chemicals that can last hundreds of years in the environment, posing long-term risks to ecosystems and potentially human health.
Plastic Pollution Could Linger at Ocean Surfaces for Over a Century, New Research Finds
Published today in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, the study is the third and final paper in a trilogy that explores the long-term fate of microplastic in the ocean.
The Honey Bee Secret to Staying Clean and Healthy
Step inside a honey bee colony, and you’ll find one of nature’s busiest and most crowded neighborhoods.
Scientists Identify Potential Climate Solutions in “Grassy Trees”
Bamboo, palm, and banana trees look and act like trees, but are actually closer to grasses in how they grow because—unlike trees—their stems do not grow wider over time.
Tiny Ocean Organisms Missing From Climate Models May Hold the Key to Earth’s Carbon Future
Calcifying plankton quietly regulate the Earth’s thermostat by capturing and cycling carbon.
El Niño could soon turn deadly predictable, scientists warn
Scientists have discovered that El Niño and La Niña could become far more powerful and predictable as the planet warms. By 2050, the tropical Pacific may hit a tipping point, locking ENSO into strong, rhythmic oscillations that synchronize with other global climate patterns. The result could be intensified rainfall extremes...